Chapter 2

"I'll send you... I'll have someone take you to the hospital."

Isabelle looked at the guests. Halfway through her sentence, she changed her words. She walked toward me somewhat guiltily, frowning at my wound.

"How did you get hurt so badly? I'll take you to the hospital."

I watched Zachary leave with a triumphant expression all over his face, and coldly withdrew my hand.

"No need. You should go accompany your little lover instead!"

Isabelle frowned. "Do you have to speak so nastily?"

I looked at her sarcastically.

"I'm not pathetic enough to stay with you after being cheated on. Let's get a divorce."

"Wait. I almost forgot. You and I never actually got married."

I smiled bitterly, laughing at myself from eight years ago who gave away his whole heart.

Eight years ago when I proposed to her, she agreed but told me she no longer believed in marriage. She could be with me, but wouldn't register the marriage.

I pitied her for having her heart broken by her childhood sweetheart. For these years I stayed by her side without title or status.

Friends advised me that I was working for free.

If she ever changed her mind, my years of youth would be wasted and I'd get nothing.

Back then I didn't believe them. Now their words had come true. I had become a complete fool.

Hearing me talk about separating, Isabelle's expression changed. She looked at me in disbelief.

"I just kept a promise. That's all. Zachary and I are done after this child."

"We can still have a good life together. Why are you so hung up on one thing?"

"You keep saying you love me. Is this how shallow your love is?"

I stared at Isabelle. She was still as beautiful as the day we met.

But her heart had changed.

She was no longer that kind girl. Now she was petty. Hypocritical. Selfish.

I closed my eyes, hiding the tears in them, and spoke coldly.

"Yes, I'm not that magnanimous."

"Don't talk to me about love anymore. You're not worthy of my true heart!"

After saying this, I left resolutely, leaving Isabelle alone in the banquet hall.

I drove straight to the hospital. When the doctor cleaned my wound without anesthesia, I didn't feel any pain. The ache in my heart had already filled my brain's nerves.

My mind wandered. The first time I met Isabelle was in a village. I came from a single-parent family and lived in poverty from childhood.

The Jensen Corporation came to the village to do charity work. Young Isabelle handed me a set of books, encouraging me to study hard. Her innocent, kind smile left a mark on my heart.

I had always admired Isabelle from a worshipful position, which is why when the Jensen family went bankrupt, I gave up my dreams without hesitation to help her.

I thought I had finally picked the rose, but it was just an illusion.

After my wound was bandaged, I suppressed all my emotions and stood up.

Forget it. We'll part amicably. Consider it repaying the Jensen family's kindness to me.

After leaving the hospital, I first went to the company to resign and pack up my personal belongings, then drove to the villa to pick up Shadow.

Shadow was the only thing my mother left me. I could give up everything else.

But him, I had to take with me.

However, when I opened the villa door, I saw a scene that tore my heart apart.

Shadow lay dying in a pool of blood. Zachary held an axe, smiling cruelly,

while Isabelle stood nearby, smiling indulgently.

"What are you doing?"

I rushed over like a madman, my hands trembling as I held Shadow.